The Redskins had taken Robert Griffin III, their expected quarterback of the future, with the 2012 NFL Draft's second overall pick. They already had veteran backup Rex Grossman.

Kirk Cousins is as surprised as anyone to be a Redskins pick. (AP Photo)

Yet the Redskins drafted Cousins, a quarterback from Michigan State, in the fourth round.

Cousins didn’t see it coming.

"I was shocked, knowing what they had done with the No. 2 pick, and I hadn’t talked to them that much in the process," Cousins said on the Dan Patrick Show. "I would have said probably Denver or Philadelphia, in terms of teams that had shown interest and were looking for a quarterback."

Unless Griffin struggles mightily or is injured, Cousins has little or no chance to win a starting job with the Redskins. Yet, he sounded excited.

"I still have an opportunity to learn from a nine-year veteran like Rex Grossman," Cousins said. "I’ll be the first one to say it was a surprising pick to me as well, but coach (Mike) Shanahan was there in San Francisco with Joe Montana and Steve Young, so he’s not new to this ... I know my opportunity is going to come sooner or later."